Hooper recently directed Baron Cohen, who has been attached to star as the Queen frontman since 2010, in Oscar-nominated musical adaptation Les Misérables. According to Deadline, there is "no formal offer" on the table but Hooper is circling the project.

The Freddie Mercury biopic has a script by Peter Morgan, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind The Queen and Frost/Nixon. Morgan's script is said to begin with the formation of Queen in the early '70s and end with their legendary 1985 Live Aid set.

The film has been in development since Baron Cohen signed on in 2010, with input from Queen stars Brian May and Roger Taylor. Last October (2012), May wrote on his website that "the pieces are all falling into place" and said the film would begin shooting this spring.

Back in June (2012), Katy Perry was linked to the role of Mary Austin, Mercury's close friend and former girlfriend. However, the singer quickly dismissed these rumours.